WordValechromatic
using notes outside the standard scale
In more detail
1. (adjective) relating to colors or using many different colors
2. (adjective) in music, using notes that are not in a particular scale
Examples
- 1. The artist created a chromatic painting with vibrant reds, blues, and yellows.
- 2. The composer used chromatic notes to create a more complex and expressive melody.
How to use chromatic
Chromatic is a technical term used primarily in music, art, and science to describe color-related or non-diatonic musical properties. In music, it refers specifically to the twelve-tone scale including sharps and flats. In visual contexts, it denotes the presence of color or color variation, as opposed to purely tonal or achromatic work.
Common phrases
- chromatic scale
- chromatic aberration
- chromatic number
- highly chromatic
- chromatic variation
Synonyms
colorful · multicolored · colored · hued
Opposites
achromatic · monochromatic
Word family
chromatically (adverb) · chromaticity (noun) · chromatic (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners often confuse chromatic with chromatic aberration, thinking it always refers to optical defects; in fact, chromatic is a neutral descriptive term that can apply broadly to any use of color or non-scale tones.
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